Dairy Exports

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) through its Dairy Grading Branch offers export certification services to assist in the exportation of dairy products. 

  • Currently, the Dairy Grading Branch only provides export certificates for dairy products manufactured or processed at plants where we have knowledge from US conducted plant and product inspections or where AMS has surveyed/approved for grading services. The plant from which the product(s) was last exposed to a chance of contamination, must be on a federal inspected dairy plant list and in good standing prior to exporting out of the United States into a foreign country.  Dairy products eligible to obtain AMS Dairy Grading Branch export certificates must be manufactured or processed in eligible plants on the lists below
  • Currently, the Dairy Grading Branch does not include claims (i.e. Kosher, Halal, Organic, Extra Grade, etc.) in the export certificate product description. Importing customers may request proof/certification of claims directly from the exporter.
  • The Dairy Grading Branch issues dairy sanitary certificates to U.S. exporters. The European Union, Vietnam and many other countries require export certificates to be dated prior to the date the product is exported. Currently, the Dairy Grading Branch dates the certificates based on the date the request is reviewed and the certificate is signed.
  • Exporters are asked to allow at least 5 business days for the Dairy Grading Branch to process export certificate requests.

Dairy products eligible to obtain AMS Dairy Grading Branch export certificates must be manufactured or processed in eligible plants on the lists below:

Current Fees

See: USDA AMS Service Fees

Past Updates

  • May 15, 2025, Update - Costa Rica adding Plant Registration effective May 10, 2025

    Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA) or the National Animal Health Service started requiring new procedures for US companies and their dairy products to be listed and approved by SENASA for any U.S. shipment destined for markets in Costa Rica.

    The USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will coordinate each company’s listing application and manage all communications to obtain the required company and product’s information needed for acceptance into Costa Rica.  AMS will collect initial company information (company name, address, etc.), product identity (animal origin), and copies of the products technical data sheets to analyze the information and prepare the listing package for FAS to submit to SENASA.  FAS will lead the effort with SENASA to respond to any questions and inquires and provide the status and result of each submission to AMS for dissemination to the requesting company.

    A customer guide is available here.

  • March 28, 2022, Update - U.S. Export Health Transit Certificates to the European Union for U.S. Military Use No Longer Needed March 28, 2022.

    European Union imposition of certification requirements for animal origin items (including dairy, egg, fishery products, and meat) transiting the EU destined for the exclusive use of the Department of Defense (DOD) is inconsistent with longstanding privileges and practices under the 1951 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and related agreements and understandings with EU member nations hosting U.S. military bases.

    The DOD has provided animal health attestations for raw meat products like beef, pork, and chicken since 2013 as a measure of respect for host nation health and safety concerns.  DOD has requested that U.S. government agencies not issue certificates for any animal origin products (other than the raw meat products) transiting the EU for U.S. military use (e.g., delivery at U.S. bases).  Effective immediately, exporters with consignments of any animal origin products (other than the raw meat products), dairy, and dairy-related products transiting the EU to U.S. military bases or warehouses should not request AMS dairy export health certificates.

    Points of Contact for further guidance/information are as follows:

    • For Defense Commissary Agency- (DeCA-) related shipments: Randy Eller, Randy.eller@deca.mil, 804-734-8000, Ext 86191.
    • For Army and Airforce Exchange Service- (AAFES-) related shipments: Brian M. Guest, Europe Regional Fleet Mgr., Army & Air Force Exchange Service, LG Fleet/Transportation Europe, guestb@aafes.com, +49-(0)72749472-102.
    • For Defense Logistics Agency- (DLA-) related shipments: MAJ Adelaide Green, Food Safety Officer, DLA Troop Support, Adelaide.Green@dla.mil.
  • September 29, 2021, Update: New Great Britain Certificates to be Issued September 30, 2021.

    Please note: The United Kingdom officially left the European Union on January 31, 2020. In regards to dairy trade and certification requirements, the UK is continuing to operate under a transition period. AMS has confirmation from the UK that current EU certificates dated up to and including September 30, 2021, will be accepted. USDA has been assured that consignments arriving after September 30, 2021, will still be permitted entry as long as they are accompanied by an export certificate dated September 30, 2021, or before.

    New Great Britain Certificates to be Issued in ATLAS September 30, 2021 To minimize trade disruptions, the UK authorities provided a transitional period to allow exporters delivering dairy and dairy composite products to continue to use existing EU export certificates to access the UK market. However, beginning on September 30, 2021, new GB dairy export certificates will be implemented for U.S. dairy and dairy composite product exports destined for GB. View the full details of the GB Dairy Export Certificate
  • August 24, 2021, Update - USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has finalized negotiations with Brazil on new Dairy export certificate language.

    AMS is launching the new certificate for Brazil, which will be available only in the Agriculture Trade Licensing & Attestation Solution (ATLAS) system beginning August 30, 2021.  New and existing level-2 e-authentication users can access the system. PLEASE NOTE: The dairy facility number on the certificate must match the facility number registered with Brazil.
  • June 28, 2021, Update

    USDA is launching a new certificate for South Korea, which will be available only in the Agriculture Trade Licensing & Attestation Solution (ATLAS) system. New and existing level-2 e-authenticated users can access the system. South Korea requires the new format for certificates signed by AMS beginning July 1, 2021. South Korea will require a duplicate export certificate with each shipment; one for the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and one for the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA). Any certificates for South Korea issued before July 1, 2021, will be accepted regardless of arrival date.

Additional Resources

Notices to Industry